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Second Half by MHSAA

Week 8 Football Playoff Listing

October 15, 2013

Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the seventh week of the season.

Schools on this list are in enrollment order. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates that a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates that a team is one win away from playoff qualification.

Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Nov. 1-2. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.

Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each.

Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Nov. 1-2.

To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.

The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place on Oct. 27 on the Selection Sunday Show at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.

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11-Player Playoff Listing

1. Utica Eisenhower, 2772, 4-3, 58.429                   
2. Clarkston, 2737, 6-1, 87.286                    
3. Macomb Dakota, 2693, 7-0, 100.571                   
4. Howell, 2672, 4-3, 57.857                                         
5. Grand Blanc, 2624, 6-1, 91.000                              
6. East Kentwood ^, 2612, 5-2, 73.143                    
7. Rockford, 2572, 6-1, 91.000                                    
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2506, 7-0, 104.000
9. Lake Orion, 2490, 6-1, 85.143                 
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2309, 4-3, 61.048               
11. Holland West Ottawa, 2293, 4-3, 59.286         
12. Northville, 2275, 6-1, 86.000                
13. Detroit Cass Tech, 2262, 7-0, 100.571               
14. Brighton ^, 2164, 5-2, 77.000                                               
15. Monroe ^, 2145, 5-2, 67.857                
16. Detroit Catholic Central, 2132, 6-1, 85.810     
17. Plymouth ^, 2126, 5-2, 67.429                             
18. Canton, 2078, 7-0, 106.286                   
19. Novi, 1986, 4-3, 55.571                                           
20. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1965, 6-1, 85.000        
21. West Bloomfield, 1941, 4-3, 57.857                   
22. Saline, 1897, 6-1, 88.000                                        
23. Westland John Glenn, 1880, 4-3, 54.143         
24. Holt, 1866, 4-3, 58.000                                            
25. Warren Mott, 1796, 7-0, 92.571                          
26. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek ^, 1759, 5-2, 72.000       
27. Hudsonville, 1736, 4-3, 62.571                             
28. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1715, 4-3, 54.143
29. Grand Ledge, 1715, 4-3, 55.571                          
30. Belleville ^, 1714, 5-2, 69.714                               
31. Davison, 1692, 4-3, 47.571                    
32. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1688, 5-2, 70.714    
33. Traverse City West, 1653, 4-3, 61.857              
34. Rochester, 1615, 4-3, 55.286                
35. Waterford Kettering, 1604, 4-3, 54.571           
36. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 7-0, 108.571       
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1598, 4-3, 57.571           
38. Rochester Adams, 1582, 4-3, 60.286                 
39. Saginaw Heritage, 1575, 4-3, 57.000                 
40. Warren DeLaSalle ^, 1564, 5-2, 79.200                             
41. Walled Lake Western, 1556, 7-0, 99.429         
42. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1488, 6-1, 84.286    
43. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1476, 4-3, 59.857
44. Midland, 1462, 6-1, 87.571                    
45. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1460, 6-1, 79.714                     
46. Pinckney ^, 1452, 5-2, 72.143                              
47. Traverse City Central, 1448, 4-3, 52.952          
48. Oak Park ^, 1438, 5-2, 71.143                               
49. Detroit Martin Luther King *, 1432, 6-0, 97.714            
50. Ypsilanti Community, 1399, 4-3, 49.000           
51. Port Huron ^, 1398, 5-2, 68.548                          
52. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1373, 7-0, 102.857      
53. Portage Central, 1372, 7-0, 99.429                     
54. Lansing Everett ^, 1369, 5-2, 63.714                  
55. Portage Northern ^, 1364, 5-2, 72.571             
56. Southfield, 1356, 6-1, 93.429                               
57. North Farmington *^, 1352, 4-3, 53.810          
58. Caledonia ^, 1350, 5-2, 66.714                             
59. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1348, 7-0, 84.571       
60. Birmingham Seaholm, 1337, 7-0, 93.714         
61. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1326, 7-0, 104.857
62. Grosse Pointe North, 1323, 4-3, 58.571           
63. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1314, 6-1, 86.429   
64. Midland Dow, 1304, 6-1, 83.000                         
65. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1300, 6-1, 91.000  
66. South Lyon ^, 1277, 5-2, 72.143                          
67. Swartz Creek, 1277, 4-3, 57.024                          
68. Birmingham Groves, 1274, 7-0, 93.714            
69. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1231, 4-3, 46.143
70. Fenton, 1188, 7-0, 97.143                      
71. Grand Rapids Northview, 1182, 4-3, 54.857   
72. Warren Woods Tower ^, 1170, 5-2, 55.429    
73. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1151, 6-1, 86.143 
74. Lowell, 1146, 7-0, 110.857                     
75. Taylor Truman, 1131, 6-1, 81.714                       
76. Holly, 1124, 4-3, 55.714                                          
77. Muskegon, 1118, 6-1, 92.286                               
78. Lapeer East, 1113, 4-3, 55.714                             
79. Marquette *, 1110, 5-1, 79.381                          
80. Detroit East English ^, 1109, 5-2, 64.738          
81. Detroit Cody, 1106, 4-3, 51.429                           
82. Allen Park ^, 1103, 5-2, 72.429                            
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1097, 4-3, 48.857            
84. Detroit Mumford, 1090, 6-1, 78.571 
85. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1079, 6-1, 77.429
86. Zeeland East ^, 1071, 5-2, 72.286                       
87. Lapeer West, 1063, 6-1, 89.571                           
88. Redford Thurston, 1063, 4-3, 60.714
89. Byron Center ^, 1039, 5-2, 63.714                      
90. Mt. Pleasant, 1033, 6-1, 87.714                           
91. Riverview ^, 993, 5-2, 59.857                               
92. St. Joseph, 986, 7-0, 97.143                  
93. Petoskey, 965, 4-3, 55.571                    
94. Mason ^, 958, 5-2, 62.000                                     
95. East Grand Rapids, 949, 4-3, 56.857                  
96. Linden, 944, 4-3, 52.000                                         
97. DeWitt, 941, 7-0, 101.943                      
98. Sault Ste. Marie, 928, 4-3, 52.857                       
99. Grand Rapids Christian, 927, 6-1, 87.571         
100. Detroit Denby ^, 909, 5-2, 60.833                    
101. Haslett ^, 907, 5-2, 65.143                  
102. Stevensville Lakeshore, 892, 4-3, 51.429      
103. Fruitport ^, 886, 5-2, 58.571                               
104. Romulus, 882, 4-3, 44.000                                   
105. Milan, 872, 7-0, 94.857                                         
106. St. Clair, 869, 7-0, 92.571                                     
107. Tecumseh ^, 869, 5-2, 66.000                            
108. Sturgis, 868, 4-3, 53.286                                       
109. Wayland Union, 861, 4-3, 59.143                     
110. Melvindale, 860, 6-1, 84.286                              
111. Plainwell, 852, 6-1, 77.429                  
112. Ionia ^, 851, 5-2, 62.000                                       
113. Sparta ^, 851, 5-2, 61.571                    
114. Eaton Rapids, 844, 4-3, 49.143                          
115. Detroit Old Redford *, 838, 5-2, 59.571         
116. Zeeland West, 833, 6-1, 78.286                        
117. Charlotte ^, 830, 5-2, 71.000                                              
118. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 823, 6-1, 76.286               
119. Dearborn Heights Annapolis, 818, 4-3, 49.143
120. North Branch, 809, 6-1, 70.429                         
121. Marysville, 791, 4-3, 51.000                                
122. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 790, 4-3, 44.286      
123. Three Rivers, 789, 4-3, 43.429                           
124. Edwardsburg, 787, 7-0, 81.143                          
125. Holland Christian, 785, 4-3, 50.000                  
126. Spring Lake, 783, 6-1, 72.714                             
127. Cadillac, 779, 7-0, 94.095                     
128. Ogemaw Heights ^, 754, 5-2, 63.381              
129. Croswell-Lexington, 738, 4-3, 47.714             
130. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep ^, 732, 5-2, 65.571             
131. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 724, 6-1, 70.476
132. Yale ^, 704, 5-2, 58.143                                        
133. Comstock Park, 701, 7-0, 98.667                      
134. Detroit Country Day, 700, 4-3, 54.571            
135. Fremont, 697, 4-3, 40.714                   
136. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 690, 4-3, 49.571               
137. Otsego ^, 688, 5-2, 54.143                  
138. Corunna, 686, 4-3, 45.143                   
139. Lansing Sexton, 684, 7-0, 99.429                      
140. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 678, 4-3, 48.429
141. Allendale *, 676, 6-1, 77.429                              
142. Cheboygan ^, 660, 5-2, 66.238                          
143. Belding, 654, 4-3, 44.429                     
144. Battle Creek Pennfield, 652, 6-1, 65.857       
145. Williamston *^, 651, 4-3, 46.714                      
146. Grand Rapids South Christian, 645, 6-1, 81.857
147. Saginaw Swan Valley, 644, 7-0, 85.714          
148. Richmond, 642, 6-1, 74.000                
149. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 635, 4-3, 54.714
150. Grosse Ile, 632, 4-3, 47.571                
151. Paw Paw, 632, 7-0, 78.857                  
152. Dowagiac, 621, 6-1, 67.000                                 
153. Lake Fenton, 613, 6-1, 70.429                           
154. Ludington, 610, 4-3, 43.000                                
155. Remus Chippewa Hills, 600, 4-3, 43.286        
156. Marine City, 596, 7-0, 98.286                             
157. Wyoming Kelloggsville ^, 591, 5-2, 53.286    
158. Clawson ^, 584, 5-2, 55.429                
159. Essexville Garber ^, 583, 5-2, 60.857              
160. Livonia Clarenceville, 577, 7-0, 84.571            
161. Portland *, 572, 7-0, 89.143                               
162. Freeland, 568, 6-1, 69.429                  
163. River Rouge, 568, 6-1, 57.619                            
164. Kingsford ^, 561, 5-2, 56.095                             
165. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 560, 4-3, 36.000
166. Parchment, 552, 4-3, 43.286                              
167. Ovid-Elsie ^, 549, 5-2, 55.429                             
168. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 544, 6-1, 77.429
169. Clinton Township Clintondale, 544, 7-0, 81.143
170. North Muskegon ^, 541, 5-2, 51.571              |
171. Gladwin ^, 539, 5-2, 55.000                                
172. Frankenmuth, 527, 6-1, 79.000                         
173. Hopkins ^, 527, 5-2, 66.286                
174. Almont, 524, 6-1, 71.571                     
175. Newaygo, 523, 6-1, 66.000                                 
176. Standish-Sterling Central *, 520, 6-1, 72.571               
177. Olivet, 505, 6-1, 63.571                        
178. Ida ^, 504, 5-2, 60.143                                          
179. Detroit University Prep ^, 501, 5-2, 52.714  
180. Menominee, 501, 7-0, 86.857                           
181. Muskegon Oakridge, 496, 6-1, 67.143           
182. Grayling, 494, 6-1, 63.286                    
183. Reed City, 490, 7-0, 83.429                 
184. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^, 490, 5-2, 56.857             
185. Dundee ^, 489, 5-2, 45.857                
186. Lansing Catholic, 480, 4-3, 50.429                    
187. Clare ^, 451, 5-2, 51.857                                      
188. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 445, 6-1, 76.286
189. Jackson Lumen Christi, 441, 7-0, 93.714        
190. Kingsley ^, 439, 5-2, 48.286                
191. Houghton, 437, 4-3, 34.196                
192. Roscommon, 431, 4-3, 36.286                           
193. Millington ^, 430, 5-2, 59.571                            
194. Warren Michigan Collegiate ^, 428, 5-2, 57.143
195. Kalkaska ^, 425, 5-2, 49.429                               
196. Madison Heights Madison, 424, 7-0, 86.857
197. Sanford Meridian, 423, 6-1, 61.143 
198. Michigan Center, 416, 6-1, 56.714   
199. Negaunee, 416, 6-1, 52.286                               
200. Hanover-Horton, 412, 4-3, 35.857                   
201. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 411, 7-0, 82.286        
202. Lakeview ^, 409, 5-2, 56.429                              
203. Grass Lake, 402, 6-1, 64.714                               
204. Shelby, 401, 7-0, 76.571                                       
205. Elk Rapids ^, 400, 5-2, 57.143                             
206. Ithaca, 399, 7-0, 80 .000                       
207. Manchester, 398, 6-1, 61.429                            
208. Hillsdale, 397, 4-3, 47.429                    
209. Niles Brandywine, 397, 7-0, 79.286 
210. Jonesville, 389, 6-1, 66.000                 
211. Grandville Calvin Christian, 388, 4-3, 47.143
212. Maple City Glen Lake, 388, 7-0, 72.000                          
213. Watervliet, 387, 7-0, 62.857                               
214. Vassar, 385, 4-3, 36.429                                       
215. Boyne City, 383, 6-1, 62.571                               
216. Clinton, 383, 7-0, 76.571                      
217. Byron Area, 380, 6-1, 58.000                              
218. Constantine ^, 379, 5-2, 46.857                        
219. Adrian Madison, 374, 4-3, 35.000                    
220. Burton Bendle ^, 374, 5-2, 51.476                   
221. Montague ^, 373, 5-2, 58.714                           
222. St. Charles, 367, 4-3, 36.000                                               
223. Quincy, 361, 4-3, 32.571                                      
224. Hartford, 351, 4-3, 39.000                                   
225. Cass City, 350, 4-3, 35.714                  
226. Indian River Inland Lakes ^, 348, 5-2, 40.333               
227. Schoolcraft, 346, 6-1, 70.429                              
228. Flint Beecher ^, 345, 5-2, 55.286                      
229. Reese, 337, 6-1, 58.000                        
230. Saginaw Nouvel, 333, 6-1, 73.429                    
231. Marlette, 332, 7-0, 69.714                  
232. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 331, 6-1, 68.000
233. McBain, 326, 4-3, 38.571                     
234. Bath, 325, 4-3, 38.000                                           
235. Hesperia, 324, 4-3, 38.714                  
236. Carson City-Crystal, 323, 7-0, 74.286              
237. Bridgman, 320, 4-3, 39.000                                 
238. Lake City, 314, 6-1, 55.714                  
239. Whittemore-Prescott ^, 309, 5-2, 49.571     
240. Springport ^, 308, 5-2, 47.286                           
241. Lawton, 307, 7-0, 60.571                     
242. Southfield Christian, 306, 6-1, 55.571             
243. East Jordan, 302, 4-3, 33.857                             
244. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker ^, 301, 5-2, 51.714
245. Ishpeming, 301, 7-0, 67.857                   &

All Eyes on Ithaca's Winning Streak

November 1, 2012

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Terry Hessbrook has sensed this level of buzz around Ithaca's football program once before.

He was a senior running back during the 1984 "dream season" when the team finished the regular season 9-0 and made the playoffs for the first time. The Yellowjackets' postseason run lasted only a week – Ithaca fell to Grand Rapids South Christian 20-0 in the first round, which in those days of shorter playoffs was the Regional Final – but the excitement was reminiscent of the attention his program is getting heading into Friday's Division 6 District Final against Hemlock. 

Except this hype extends far outside the city limits of his 2,900-resident hometown. Ithaca has won 38 straight games, the fifth-longest streak in MHSAA football history, and is only three more wins from a third straight trip to the Finals at Ford Field.

“It’s been really neat to have people take a look at what we’re doing in Ithaca,” Hessbrook said. “We’re not doing anything different. We’re not reinventing the wheel. We’re not a bunch of geniuses or anything like that. We just have a coaching staff that works really hard and supports each other, and we don’t care who gets the credit. And the players don’t care who gets the credit.” 

How much the ninth-year coach is beaming comes through the phone as he talks of his players' handling of the growing expectations or how fortunate he is to be surrounded by assistants he's been close with, in at least a few cases, for decades.

And winning makes everything more fun. The Yellowjackets get a Second Half High 5 this week as they work toward becoming just the fifth school to win three straight MHSAA titles since the first playoffs were held in 1975. The winning streak is the third-longest among those that included at least one season since the postseason was added.

Ahead of Ithaca on that consecutive wins list are Hudson (72), Morenci (44), Cheboygan (43) and New Lothrop (39). But only Cheboygan accomplished its streak completely within the playoff era, with Hudson’s coming to an end in the first MHSAA Class C Final.  

Making this run more special is that half the team has been together for nearly all of it.

Hessbrook brought his players into a huddle at the start of practice this August, and as he started looking at their faces, a thought crossed his mind.

“Wow, you guys have been around for a long time,” he told them.

Ithaca’s football players haven’t been around any longer than those on any other team in Michigan. But it sure feels that way. The Yellowjackets have played in 12 playoff games over the last three years, and five seniors who moved to varsity at the start of 2010 – receiver Markes Gadlen, linebackers Tyler Gibson and Jacob Barnes and linemen Bradley Martyn and Josh Capen – have played in 38 varsity games. That’s the equivalent of more than four regular seasons. And the team's other 12 seniors all came up for the playoffs in 2010, giving them more postseason experience than perhaps any group currently playing in this state. 

During that 2010 run, they felt like they were along for the ride. Last season’s championship was about seniors like Garrett Miniard and David Brown showing they could win one too after following all-state quarterback Alex Niznak’s lead the year before. Now, these seniors similarly want to be the leaders of another title run.

But Hessbrook is sure to credit one more group – the 2009 team that played in the team's first MHSAA Semifinal.

“In 2009, that group of players raised the bar, and they made it possible, although they didn’t win,” Hessbrook said. “They didn’t get to the big game. But in 2009, for one quarter (in the Semifinal), we played with Montague (which went on to finish 14-0).

“The bar has been raised. I don’t know that the goal now is to (just) get into the playoffs. I think the kids are hungry enough that they don’t want to just get in. They want to get in and make noise.”  

The name statewide observers are coming to know is that of junior quarterback Travis Smith. He took over in the 2011 opener and quarterbacked the team through the 42-14 championship game win over Constantine, throwing for 299 yards – fifth-best all-time for an MHSAA championship game.

His numbers this fall say plenty – 107 completions in 175 attempts for 1,696 yards and 30 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. Smith also leads the team with 610 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He’s 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and already getting the college looks that came to Niznak during his senior season after he’d already committed to Central Michigan.

Total, the team is outscoring opponents on average 53-6. The defense is a little smaller but faster this fall, and is averaging exactly three turnovers per game.  

Another stat helps it all make more sense. Teams submit the grade-point average for their top 11 players for academic all-state – and Ithaca’s group comes in at 3.85.

And visitors to Ithaca don’t get the feel they’re in a small town once they enter the stadium. Recent renovations included the addition of viewing platforms 15 feet above the track that put fans closer to the field than the first row of bleachers. There are new bathrooms and a larger concessions area, but the biggest blast comes from the 13 by 24-foot Jumbotron scoreboard that’s made the stadium feel more like the home of a Division II college team.

Hessbrook estimates at least 2,000 fans are showing up for home games, and similarly large crowds have followed his team on the road.

To Ithaca’s credit, the team is taking all of this in stride. It’s not that the streak isn’t a big deal – “It is what it is,” Hessbrook said – but the players just don’t talk about it too much.

“They’re really a mature group of seniors, really grounded, from great families with great parents who are very supportive of what we’re doing and just keep their kids grounded. The coaching staff does a good job keeping the kids grounded," Hessbrook said. "You’re only as good as your last game. Nobody’s going to care what you did last week or last month. And I think the players believe that.”

PHOTOS: (Top) Ithaca's Caden Kipp and Zach Allen (12) celebrate after a touchdown during last week's win over Grandville Calvin Christian. (Middle) Quarterback Travis Smith already is in the MHSAA record book for his performance during last season's Division 6 Final. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com).